At least 47 Iraqis
were killed and 78 more were wounded in the latest violence. A U.S.
airman was killed in an IED attack as well. Seven likely Arab nationals
were also killed in Tikrit. In Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki continues
his attacks against Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's followers, threatening a
cease fire imposed after clashes left hundreds dead and al-Maliki's government
weakened.

Prime Minister al-Maliki continues to verbally
attack the cleric's followers, threatening a fragile truce between his government
and political rival Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. Last week, al-Maliki implemented
a "security crackdown" in Basra that appeared to be an operation actually aimed
against the Mahdi Army alone. This resulted in clashes throughout the southern
provinces and ended in an embarrassing failure for the al-Maliki government. This
week he singled
out Mahdi strongholds other cities--where U.S. forces would be able to lend
significant support--for similar crackdowns.

The Mahdi Army had been observing
a 7-month long unilateral truce at the time of the battles. Analysts believe the
operation was meant to demolish the cleric's political base before October elections.
Also, the Iraqi authorities dropped
leaflets on Basra, calling for citizens to support them against militia groups.

Meanwhile, al-Sadr has called
on Iraqis to descend on the holy city of Najaf for a peaceful million-strong
march against the U.S. occupation. The Iraqi government has pledged not to interfere
unless it becomes violent.

In Basra, a U.S. airstrike left as many
as three dead and six
others wounded, according to police. U.S. forces claim they only killed two
gunmen, but pictures of
a woman's body have surfaced. Nearthe city in al-Maqal, Iraqi security
forces detained
the head of the Thaar al-Allah Shi'ite religious party.

U.S. forces came under attack while conducting an arrest
operation in Hilla. An airstrike was called in after the operation turned
into a clash. Six people were
killed, including four policemen, and 15
others were wounded. The dead and wounded may
all have been Iraqi security forces and not enemy combatants.